Joined in prayer

You don’t have to be religious to seek inner peace and spiritual fulfillment. Even atheists and large numbers of “just curious” visitors join the hundreds of thousands of pious Theravāda Buddhists who make the pilgrimage each year to the 320-hectare temple complex and the Dhammakaya Cetiya, also known as the “UFO temple,” at its center. Around 300 000 small golden statues of Buddha adorn the temple’s dome, and a contemplative stillness reigns here despite the meditating crowds.

GETTING THERE

Lufthansa flies daily from Frankfurt (FRA) to Bangkok (BKK). The temple is roughly an hour’s drive from central Bangkok. A free bus service is available on Sundays and Buddhist holidays.